Bible Strands
Psalms 119:16
I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly while articulating a personal vow of retention and joy. This declaration follows a statement about meditating on God's precepts and precedes a request for God's bountiful care so the speaker may live and keep His word.
The words — The verb אֶשְׁתַּעֲשַׁ֑ע ('esh.ta.'a.Sha), "I will delight myself," takes the prepositional phrase בְּ/חֻקֹּ֥י/ךָ (be./chu.ko.Tei./cha), "in Your statutes," as its governing object. The second clause pairs לֹ֭א אֶשְׁכַּ֣ח (lo' 'esh.Kach), "I will not forget," with דְּבָרֶֽ/ךָ\׃ (de.va.Re./kha), "Your word."
The thread — The psalmist's vow to delight in divine statutes and retain God's word echoes in Psalms 119:24, Psalms 119:47, and Proverbs 3:1. These passages consistently tie covenant faithfulness to active memory and joy in God's instructions.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to actively memorize Scripture and treat obedience as a source of joy. It demands that retention of God's word shape daily conduct rather than remain abstract knowledge.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Cross-references
- Psalms 119:24 Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors.
- Psalms 119:47 I delight in Your commandments because I love them.
- Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
- Psalms 119:35 Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.
- Romans 7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.
- Psalms 119:70 Their hearts are callous and insensitive, but I delight in Your law.
- Psalms 119:77 May Your compassion come to me, that I may live, for Your law is my delight.
- Psalms 119:83 Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.
- Psalms 119:92 If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.
- Psalms 119:109 I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law.